"Everyday Use" - Putting the Elements Together

Question 1

exposition

Answer 1

• it reveals that Maggie and her mother are old school but not backwards while Dee is invested in the new age
• there is a sense that Dee feels like she is better than Maggie and her mom
• this feeling makes dee seem villainous

Question 2

rising arction

Answer 2

• the struggle of how hard it is to get along with Dee

- the argument over Dee’s desire to display their childhood artifacts

Question 3

climax

Answer 3

when momma tells dee that she cannot take the objects home

Question 4

characters

Answer 4

• momma is old school and the connection to the past
• dee is new school
• maggie is stuck in the middle; she is old school but is from dee’s generation

Question 5

symbolism

Answer 5

• the quilts symbolize the heritage of their family
• dee ignores the heritage of the quilts and devalues it, so mother does not let her have the quilt
• maggie connects with the heritage and made it part of her life; her heritage is for everyday use so momma lets her have the quilts

Question 6

perspective

Answer 6

told in momma’s perspective because she really understands Dee

Question 7

heritage

Answer 7

• it seems like the people who appreciate heritage the most are the ones who remember family history
• heritage is more than just the pieces; it’s the people
• everyday use is the way we show appreciation for our heritage
• noble and global statement: we use the things we cherish most

Question 8

which of the following best describes the king of life that mama and maggie live together

Answer 8

simple

Question 9

what literary device does the author use to develop the theme

Answer 9

juxtaposing character’s personalities

Question 10

which word best describes the way maggie feels about both the family’s history and the artifacts

Answer 10

comfortable

Question 11

who is the boy Dee has brought home to meet the family

Answer 11

we are not specifically informed about their relationship